Selective remote signaling system



June 27, 1950 L. JOLY ET AL 5 2,512,652

SELECTIVE REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 25,- 1947 p 2 SheetsSheet 1 A TTORNE Y June 27, 1950 L. JOLY ET AL 2,512,552

SELECTIVE REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 23, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LEO/V JULY LOU/S c'. ANDRES BY A TTOP/VEY Patented June 27, 1950 2,512,652 I C E 2,512,652 SELECTIVE REMOTE SIGNALING SYSTEM Lon Joly and Louis Charles Andres, Boulogne- Billanc'ourt, France, assignors to International Standard ElectricCorp New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application July'23, 1947, Serial No. 763,060 In France September20',"1943 Section 1,Public Law 690, August 8, 1946, Patent expires September 20, 1963 The present invention relates to the remote signalling of the positions or conditions of members by means of code signals, and particularly those of systems in which. the transmission of the code signals is effected to a central station where the positions or conditions of the members being checked are tobe controlled. This is, for example, the case in systems employed fo controlling at a central station the'positions of relays, signals, switches and measuring devices that are used for railroad signalling.

The devices whoseposition or condition is to be controlled at every-moment are generally distributed at various places, efig. along arailroad track, but however theremay be groups of these devices at each place. It-may consequently happen that there 'are code signals to be transmitted simultaneously from a single place,-owing to the fact that certain devices or members of a group have simultaneously changed positions or conditions, or else iromtwo different places at'which the positions or conditions of certain members have b'een'modified at the same time.

The present invention consequently aims at providing-in systems of this kind'arrangements and means for preventing by time stagger the loss of codesthat would result'from the simultaneous operation of several devices located in one group or in different groups.

These arrangements andmeans are explained in'the following description given with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically one example of a'transmission circuit of the position codes of grouped members, this circuit being disposed,'according to certain features of the invention, in such a way that no code is lost in case of the simultaneous change of position of devices of one and the same group, and

Fig. 2- illustrates schematically one example of a multiple station transmission circuit with electrical inter-station locking provided, according to certain features of the invention, in such a way as to timestagger the transmission of several codes proceedingfrom different stations and produced simultaneously.

Before proceeding with the description of Fig. i, it may be Well to explain the manner in which the operation of various camscontrolled by sequence switches Cl and C2, shown in that figure,

has been illustrated. The cams, indicated at A, B, C and Din the case of switch C2 and at B, C, D and E in the case of switch CI, cooperate withrespective sets of contacts shown'as small triangles pointing toward the cam. A white triangle'denotes a contact whichis continuously closed throughout the entire rotation of the cam, while a black triangle indicates an intermittently closed=contact, the positions between which the contact-remains closed being indicated by nomen- 9 Claims. (Cl. 1'7'7'-353) als placed alongside the triangle; thus the legend /1 indicates that the contact remains closed between position I and position H! of the switch but opens as the switch. steps from position l8 to position I, the number of positions of both switches being eighteen by way of example. Similarly, the legend 2%/3 indicates that the contact remains closed during a quarter of a step immediately before the switch reaches position 3. The upper contacts of cams B'--E', associated with switch CI, have not been provided with legends, the opening and closing of these contacts being determined arbitrarily in accordance with a selected code combination to be trans-- mitted by these contacts, as will become more clearly apparent hereinafter.

In the circuit of Fig. 1, which shows four grouped members to be controlled, each of these members p1-p4 has a high position and a low position. Each member is associated with three relays Pi-P i, RHl-Rl-I l and RBI-BB5, respectively, and each assembly or group is provided with-two sequence switches C1, C2 and to a beatrelay RT common to all members.

' If any of the illustrated devices gel--10. changes itsiposition,'f orexample by moving from its'high position into its low position while the sequence switches are in position I, the actuated device, Bug. 102, makes its lower contacts and the circuit of relay BB2 is closed across condenser CB2 connected to the rest contact of relay REE. Under the action of the charging current of condenser CB2, relay BB2 pu is up its armature and holds up locally by its second winding on the i/lt contact of cam C of sequence switch Cl.

Upon operating, relay disconnects condenser CH2 from the top contact of the member P2 and connects it to the discharging resistance R2. At the same time, by its right-hand outer contact, it closes by cam D of sequence switch C2 the circuit of the clutch electromagnet of this sequence switch, and it leaves position I.

By the circuit that is closed at 2/i of cam A,

and by the rest contacts of relay Pl, P2, P3 etc., the sequence switch C2 passes through position 2 without stopping there and, when it has reached position 2 negative potential is connected, by cam B at 2 /3 and by the operating contact of relay BB2, to relay P2 which operates and holds up by its second winding on contact l/ I8 01 cam C ofthe sequence switch C l. I The excitationcircuit of the clutch electromagnet of sequence switch C2 is then opened at the rest contact of relay P2, and this sequence switch stops at position 3.

Since relayPZ is energized, it establishes the circuit of the clutch electromagnet of sequence switch Cl by the closing of its left-hand inner 0 contact, and thisse'quence switch leaves position I to make a complete rotation during which no stop is provided for.

Relay RT, whose circuit is closed at the righthand inner front contact of relay P2 by way of the right-hand pair of inner contacts of cam C,

comes into operation and beats at the cadence imposed on it by the configuration of this cam whereby a signal characteristic of the low position of device 122 will be sent over the line A, B.

When sequence switch Cl leaves position I8, relays RB2 and P2 become released and sequence switch Cl again stops at position I. Relay P2, once more in the resting position, again closes the .meiits'st StatiCIljjbllt stations or groups of members, certain features of the invention provide arrangements which will be cated at Al, A2, A3 and An, and the common 2-wire transmission line at A, B. As shown in the diagram, each station is connected to the neighboring stations by three wires I, 2, 3, the

- 2-wire line circuit being normally insulated circuit of sequence switch C2 which leaves position 3 and homes to position I, provided no other RH or RB relay is energized.

When, subsequently, the change-over contact of the member 122 resumes its top position, it is relay RH2 that operates under the effect of the charging current of condenser CH2 connected to the rest contact of relay BB2. Sequence switch C2 also leaves position I and comes to stop at position 3, again causing operation of relay, P2 which, in its turn, takes sequence switch CI out of position I.

The circuit of relay RT is then closed by the front contact of relay RH2, instead of RB2 as, already described, by way of the left-hand upper contact of cam C instead of its right-hand upper contact.

During the rotation of sequence switch CI, relay RT beats at the cadence imposed on it by the configuration of this cam C, thereby transmitting a signal combination characteristic of the high position of device 222.

The cam surfaces cooperating with the upper contacts of the cams of sequence switch CI are all different, accordingly identifying all the positions of the group of members to be controlled.

If the member 171 had changed position instead of 212, sequence switch C2 would have stopped at position 2 instead of position 3; similarly, for the member p3, sequence switch C2 would have stopped at position 4, and at position 5 for the member 174, etc.

If the change of position of any member takes place during the time of rotation of sequence switch C2 or of sequence switch CI, i. e. during the sending of a code, the corresponding relay of the actuated member operates and remains held up by its second winding on the rest contact of the associated relay P. The trail of impulses which subsequently signals the change of position of this member is sent when the sequence switches Cl and C2 have completed the sending of the preceding code, that is after sequence switch Cl, on stepping to position i, releases the P and RB (or RH) relay of the signaling device previously actuated. By these means, all the changes of position of a newly actuated signaling device are stored until the distributor switch C2 reaches a predetermined position assigned to such device, switch C2 being prevented from reaching said position until the sending switch CI has completed the transmission of impulses characteristic of another device having priority, either by virtue of its connection to switch C2 ahead of the first-mentioned device or by reason of said other device having been the first to operate.

Each condenser CB or CH is in turn discharged locally on the resistances R or R provided for this purpose, as shown in the drawing.

In order to prevent the loss of codes, not through simultaneous operation of severalcle from these stations. At each station, the switching relays are four in number and are designated by the letters B, I, C and L with a subscript indicating thestation.

The operation of this device, provided for the economical transmission of changes of position of members located in stations remote from each other without too much complication of wiring, is such that a single code may be sent at one time. When, with all the members in the resting position, a code is transmitted by one of the stations, e. g. station II, the contact of member A2 is madaand relay B2 becomes energized.

Upon its operation, this relay B2 effects the connection of relay I2 to wires I and 2, and also thegrounding of wire 3.

With all the other relays B in the resting position, the circuit of relay I2 is closed to earth at the left-hand outer back contact of relay BI, and also to the battery at the left-hand inner back contact of relay Bn. Relay I2 operates and in its turn effects the disconnection of wire 3 via the back contact of relay I2 and the connection of the impulse emitting circuit (not shown, because of any known type) to wires A and B by the closing of its left-hand front contacts.

When the impulses are sent, relay A2 falls back and efiects release of relays B2 and I2.

When ground has been connected to wire 3 by the front contact of B2, this ground will have energized, in all the other stations, the C relays which have opened the excitation circuit of the corresponding B relays. Accordingly, if the A relay of another station had come into the code transmission position during the sending of impulses by station II, the B relay of that other station would not have been able to operate, and the corresponding A relay would have remained energized until station II had finished its signalling, and until the signalling had been completely forwarded to the station in question.

When a circuit becomes released after the sending of the code, the falling back of the C relays of the other stations reconnects the associated B relays, and one of them (only one at a time) operates for transmitting the code of the station whose A relay has operated.

If two. B relays operate at the same time, the following operations take place:

The corresponding I relays cannot become energized, since their circuits are opened on wires l and 2. Two L relays have their excitation circuit closed at the same time, and by their excitation, they cause operation of the associated C relays which open the circuit of theirB relays.

The firstB relay of a station that fallsback immediately energizesthe Irelay of the other station whentheB relay in this latter station becomes energized on the :back contact of. the Crelar which is elea ed owin to thgremoral 0f.

earth from wire 3 caused by the falling back of the B relay of the distant station.

Two I relays cannot be excited together and in case there is a risk of the simultaneous occurrence of two or more changes of position of the members to be checked, the set of relays B, C and L prevents the simultaneous excitation of the I relays, and also the blocking of the stations, by an electrical looking somewhat similar to the double test operations in automatic telephony. The code sendings are accordingly eifected successively over the line A, B.

Although the invention ha been described for certain particular examples of embodiment, it is evident that it is by no means limited thereto, but on the contrary is capable of numerous modifications and adaptations without departing from its scope.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of signaling devices, each of said devices having' contact means arranged to be actuated when the device is in condition to send out signals, a sequence switch having a normal and a plurality of oil-normal positions, each of said devices having assigned thereto a respective oifnormal position of said sequence switch, a plurality of signal generator means each adapted to send out a signal characteristic of a respective signaling device, drive means common to all of said signal generator means, each of said signaling devices comprising a first and a second relay, said first relay being energizable under the control of the respective contact means and having contacts for stepping said sequence switch from its normal position when thus energized, a homing circuit for said sequence switch including back contacts or" all of said second relays, an energizing circuit for each second relay arranged to be closed when said sequence switch reaches a respective off-normal position, contacts controlled by said second relay in the energized condition thereof for bpryaliiir said homing circuit and operating said drive means, contacts controlled by said first relay in the energized condition thereof for rendering eii'ective the corresponding signai generator means only, and contacts controlled by said drive means for releasing both of said relays subsequently to the transmission of said characteristic signal.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said second relay has back contacts arranged to maintain said first relay energized, independently of said contacts controlled by said drive means, as long as said second relay remains unoperated.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a rotary switch, said. signal generator means comprising a plurality of cams entrained by said rotary switch.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first relay is provided with an energizing circuit, a condenser in said energizing circuit, said contact means being arranged upon actuation in one sense to close said energizing circuit through said condenser whereby the latter will be charged and said first relay will be momentarily energized, said contact means being further adapted upon actuation in another sense to close a discharge circuit for said condenser, and a holding circuit for said first relay including said contacts controlled by said drive means, the last-mentioned contacts being closed when said drive means is at rest.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said drive means comprises a, rotary switch having a home position, said last-mentioned con-' tacts being arranged to open immediately before said rotary switch reaches said home position.

6, In a signaling system, in combination, a plurality of control devices each having changeover contacts, a pair of relays individual to each control device, each relay of a pair being arranged to become energized when the associated change-over contacts are displaced in one sense or the other, respectively, distributor means having a plurality of positions each assigned to a respective control device, circuit means for successively displacing said distributor means through said positions when any of said relays is energized, each control device further being provided with a third relay arranged to be energized over contacts of either relay of the associated pair upon said distributor means reaching a respective position, said third relay being arranged to arrest said distributor means in said respective position, a plurality of signal generator means each individual to a respective one of the first-mentioned relays and adapted to send out a characteristic signal, contacts controlled by said third relay when energized for initiating the operation of all of said signal generator means, and contacts controlled by a respective one of said first-mentioned relays for rendering effective a respective signal generator means only.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein each of the relays of a pair has an energizing circuit including back contacts of the other relay of the pair.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said energizing circuit includes a series condenser adapted to be charged over front contacts of the relay not in series therewith and to be discharged through said energizing circuit, whereby the relay in series therewith will be momentarily energized, each of said first-mentioned relays further having a holding circuit, and normally closed contacts in said holding circuit arranged to be opened upon said signal generator means completing the transmission of said characteristic signal.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said third relay has back contacts shunting said normally closed contacts, whereby an energized one of the first-mentioned relays cannot be released prior to the operation of the associated third relay.

LEON JOLY. LOUIS CHARLES ANDRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,945,665 Stewart Feb. 6, 1934 2,082,465 Preston June 1, 1937 2,082,550 Powell June 1, 1937 2,111,352 Blake Mar. 15, 1938 2,152,390 Snavely Mar. 18, 1939 2,176,600 Agnew Oct. 17, 1939 2,223,126 Phinney Nov. 26, 1940 2,229,249 Lewis Jan. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,711 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1931 

